The Yue State was established by the ancient Yue people, who were rumored to be descendants of Dayu. It is said that the Xia people have been active in the Kuaiji area for a long time. Xia Yu once married a daughter of the Tushan family. Some people say that Tushan is located in today's Shanyin. Xia Yu also held a gathering of "nobles" in Tushan and inspected the world. He "returned to Dayue and climbed Maoshan to pay homage to the gods in all directions." Maoshan here is considered to be Kuaiji Mountain. Because Xia Yu convened the "nobles" here, "it is the way of governing the country", so it was called Kuaiji. It is said that Yu the Great was buried in Kuaiji Mountain after his death.
Yu's son Qi established the Xia Dynasty, so he "erected an ancestral temple on Nanshan" to worship Yu. At the time of Shaokang, in order to continue to perform sacrifices to Yu, he sent his concubine Wu Yu to Kuaiji. After that, the population of Yue area gathered and gradually prospered. However, this statement is more of a conjecture than a true historical fact.
Researchers of pre-Qin history believe that the above statements are "all legends". There is doubt whether the scope of activities of Yu the Great reached the Yangtze River area in the southeast. Moreover, there are also place names such as Tushan and Kuaiji in other places, so the materials cited are also It is not enough to prove that Dayu went to Yue. However, scholars have not completely denied the possibility that the ancient Xia people reached Yue.
Some people think that the Yue Kingdom was created by the clan branches of the Chu Kingdom, so during the Spring and Autumn Period, the Jin Dynasty was close to Wu, and the Chu Kingdom was close to Yue. However, there is still a lack of strong evidence for the idea that the Yue people are a branch of the Chu state.
In "Historical Records: The Yue Family", there is no record of the more than twenty generations after Wu Yu until King Yunchang of Yue. After King Yunchang of Yue, he was followed by King Goujian of Yue who destroyed Wu and became hegemonic. Therefore, there are very few historical records about the origin and development of the Yue Kingdom.
Regarding the social development of the Yue Kingdom, there is a record in "Wu Yue Chun Qiu" that Wu Yu was still "dwelling in the mountains" when he was granted the title, "but he continued to farm with Ling Lu, or chased birds and deer for food. Wu Yu was simple and unsophisticated. The decorations of the palace are set up to serve as the residence of the people." It can be seen that during the period of scarcity, the production and life of the Yue people were relatively simple, the productive forces had not yet been fully developed, and the form of social organization was also relatively primitive. However, there are no records of more social details about the Yue Kingdom, so it is impossible to know. However, judging from the development of Wu State, which is adjacent to Yue State, the social development of Yue State should be roughly similar to that of Wu State. It was not until the Spring and Autumn Period that social, political and economic life developed rapidly.
However, according to archaeological discoveries, agriculture was developed very early in Vietnam. Artificially cultivated rice and a large number of agricultural tools were found in the Hemudu ruins in Yuyao, Zhejiang today, which are 7,000 years old. The natural conditions here are superior and suitable for the development of agriculture and fishery, which is still the case today. It is said that when Gou Jian conquered Wu, he repaid the grain he borrowed from Wu in one year, but he was afraid that Wu people would use the grain as seeds, so he cooked it all, resulting in Wu's harvest that year. It can be seen that the food varieties in Vietnam are quite excellent.
The development of Yue's metallurgical industry also caught up with the level of the Central Plains during the Spring and Autumn Period, and it also developed sword-making technology with Yue's characteristics. Utensils such as "Gufeng Joutan" and "Goujian Sword" are all from the Yue Kingdom, and their shapes and patterns are very exquisite. It is said that Mo Xie, the famous sword general of Wu State, made it after accepting the sword-making technology of Yue State. Gou Jian, the king of Yue, actively made weapons and forged swords during the "Ten Years of Life", which has been famous since ancient times.
The cultural development of the Yue Kingdom integrated the Central Plains culture and local culture. Judging from the unearthed bronze inscriptions, it belongs to the Central Plains system like Wu and Chu. However, the Yue people developed a unique "Bird and Insect Seal" based on this, which is graceful, strong, beautiful and full of calligraphy artistic characteristics. In terms of literature and art, Yue also showed its characteristics of cultural integration. After Gou Jian surrendered to Wu, he was forced to work as a slave for the King of Wu. When he left Yue and entered Wu, his wife sang a tragic song. The lyrics are roughly as follows: "Looking up at the flying birds, the kites are flying. Anyway, pecking at shrimps and flying in the clouds... I am blameless and bear the burden of the earth. How can I blame the heaven for condemning me! I am traveling alone to the west. I know how old I am when I return?!"
This sad song by the wife of the King of Yue expresses the sorrow of the country and the family and the worries of being exiled from another country. It is really sad and touching. The entire structure and wording of the lyrics are very similar to the style of Chu Ci, which reflects that the Yue State is deeply influenced by the Chu culture, and also reflects the profound Chineseization of the Yue State itself.
But another song "Yue People's Song" circulated in the Yue Kingdom has a strong local flavor. Therefore, from the perspective of the culture of the Yue State, it is deeply influenced by Chinese culture but has local characteristics. This seems to explain the origin of the Yue State. On the one hand, it originated from China, such as the legend of Dayu and Wuyu's ennoblement; On the other hand, there are also some primitive residents here, which is the result of ethnic integration. The improvement of human productivity has also expanded the scope of human activities and the ability to transform nature. Therefore, the exchanges and integration between people have contributed to the fusion culture of the Yue State, which is why the Yue State was formed.
In the 29th year of Lu Xianggong (544 BC), the state of Wu attacked Yue and cut off the feet of a captured Yue man and ordered him to watch the ship. One day, King Yuji of Wu was inspecting the shipping and was hacked to death by this Yue prisoner. The conflict between Wu and Yue intensified. Since then, the State of Yue has continued its strategy of uniting with Chu to defeat Wu. In the fifth year of Lu Zhaogong (537 BC), the Yue State sent a doctor, Chang Shouguo, to lead troops to help the Chu State conquer Wu, but the Wu army was defeated by Que'an. In the twenty-fourth year of Duke Zhao of Lu (518 BC), the State of Yue sent its official Xu Juan to Yuzhang to reward the Chu army. However, the Chu army was defeated by the Wu army, and the Chu State also occupied Chaoyi and Zhongli.
In the 32nd year of Lu Zhaogong (510 BC), the Wu State mobilized a large-scale army to attack Yue. The Wu army was victorious and occupied the Yue Kingdom. Later, King Yun of Yue took advantage of the opportunity of Wu State to send troops to attack Chu State and invaded Wu State, forcing the Wu army to withdraw from the Chu capital of Ying. At this point, the feud between Wu and Yue deepened. So in the fourteenth year of Lu Dinggong (496 BC), Wu and Yue were at war again. King Wu Helu took advantage of the death of King Yun Chang of Yue and led his army to attack Yue. The Yue State sent troops to resist the Wu army's invasion, and the Wu and Yue armies took up positions in the Li area to prepare for a war. However, the new King of Yue, Gou Jian, used a surprising force to defeat the Wu army and even injured King Helu of Wu to death.
After King Wu Fu Chai came to the throne, he never forgot to avenge his father, so he trained troops and gathered grain in the country of Wu. After seeing this situation, King Gou Jian of Yue decided to take the lead in attacking Wu State. However, the state of Wu relied on its strong military strength to resist the attack of the Yue army, and instead besieged the Yue King Gou Jian and his remaining 5,000 armored soldiers in Kuaiji.
Gou Jian, the king of Yue, was at the end of his rope at this time. He also wanted to fight against the trapped beast, killed his wife and destroyed the treasure, and led five thousand soldiers to die together with the king of Wu. However, the ministers under King Gou Jian of Yue dissuaded him and asked him to give up this idea. So Gou Jian, the king of Yue, endured the humiliation and asked the king of Wu to surrender.
King Gou Jian of Yue and his companion Fan Li entered Wu. After arriving at the state of Wu, they met King Wu Fu Chai. Gou Jian, the king of Yue, kowtowed to the king of Wu and said: "Gou Jian, the despicable minister of the East China Sea, is ashamed of Huang Tian when he is above him, and he is a failure to Hou Tu when he is below. He does not think of his own capabilities, insults the king's soldiers, and sins deeply to invade Wu. The border of our country. Your Majesty has pardoned my great sin and allowed me to become your servant and hold the broom for you. Thanks to your kindness, I can save my life. I am really grateful and my heart is full of tears. Your Majesty Gou Jian kowtows to you. .”
King Wu Fu Chai did not kill Gou Jian, but let him drive and raise horses in the palace of Wu.
King Gou Jian of Yue stayed in King Wu's palace, raising horses and driving horses, and this lasted for three years. During these three years, Gou Jian, Fan Li and others were neither sullen nor angry, nor showed any hatred on their faces. One day, King Wu Fu Chai saw Gou Jian, his wife, and Fan Li sitting by the horse dung pile. The courtesy of a monarch and his ministers was still there, and the etiquette of a couple was still there, so he felt pity for them. Under Bo Pu's persuasion, the King of Wu wanted to let Gou Jian and the others go back. However, Wu Zixu advised the King of Wu not to let Gou Jian go and that he should look for opportunities to kill them to avoid future chaos. Finally, Bo Chu persuaded King Wu Fu Chai, who was suffering from a minor illness at this time, so he said: "When my illness is cured, Dazai will let them go."
However, King Wu was not cured of his illness for three months, so Gou Jian summoned Fan Li and said, "The King of Wu has been ill for three months and has not recovered yet. I heard that the way to be a minister is to make the ministers worry when the monarch is sick. Besides, Wu The king has treated me with great kindness, but now his illness is not good, please predict it." Fan Li said: "King Wu will definitely not die, and he will be well by his own day, please pay attention to it."
Gou Jian added: "The reason why I am exhausted but not dead is entirely due to your strategy. Now that I am halfway through the matter, if I hesitate, is it my ambition? If it is possible, please help me plan it." Fan Li said He said: "This man, King Wu Fu Chai, is really unfaithful. He has repeatedly said that he would release us but has not done so. Therefore, I hope that in the name of paying homage to the King of Wu's illness, the king will meet the King of Wu, ask for the King of Wu's excrement, taste it, and observe it." After seeing his color, he congratulated the King of Wu and said that he would not die, and set the date of his recovery as the date of his return to Vietnam. After getting the promise from the King of Wu, the king no longer has to worry."
So Gou Jian, the king of Yue, followed Fan Li's plan and asked to see the king of Wu. It happened that Bo Chu entered the palace to report to the King of Wu. He happened to meet the King of Wu, and then Bo Chu went out. When Bo Pechi entered the courtyard, Gou Jian asked the King of Wu to taste the food to determine the condition of the King. Gou Jian took the King of Wu's excrement with his hands and tasted it before entering the palace to see the King of Wu.
When Gou Jian saw Queen Wu, he said happily: "I, the humble prisoner Gou Jian, congratulate the king: Your illness will gradually be cured by the end of the day, and Renshen will be cured by March." King Wu Fu Chai asked: " How do you know?" So Gou Jian said: "Today I tasted the king's excrement privately. It tastes bitter and sour. It is this taste that conforms to the atmosphere of spring and summer. That's why I know it!" King Wu He said very happily: "What a benevolent person!"
Soon, King Wu recovered from his illness. After King Wu Fu Chai thought of Gou Jian's loyalty, he agreed to let him return to Vietnam to manage politics. After Gou Jian surrendered to Wu, he endured the humiliation and survived, and finally gained the trust of Wu King Fu Chai and was able to return to Vietnam. It was precisely because of Gou Jian's firm determination and extraordinary endurance that the Yue Kingdom had the opportunity to turn over and achieve hegemony.
